Lawmakers introduce bipartisan healthcare safe staffing bills

Members of the WA Safe + Healthy coalition on Monday applauded legislative champions led by Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett) and Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) for introducing bipartisan legislation to create new safe staffing standards for hospitals in Washington state, which will help protect healthcare workers and ensure patients get the care they deserve.

Last month UFCW 21, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and the Washington State Nurses Association – which collectively represent more than 71,000 healthcare workers in the state of Washington – launched the WA Safe + Healthy campaign calling on lawmakers in Olympia to pass legislation to deal with the unprecedented burnout and unsafe work conditions healthcare workers are facing. The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the largest union organization in the state, also identified the issue as a priority in its 2022 Workers’ Recovery Agenda.